THERE are those who will say that Fred Goodwin, the disgraced former chief executive of the RBS group, cast a shadow over their lives. His neighbours at the home he owns in the Colinton area of Edinburgh experienced that in a physical as well as a metaphorical manner.

They complained that a 20ft leylandii hedge at his property blocks out the light and prevents plants from growing in their own gardens, and took action under the new High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013. It gives councils the right to force homeowners to cut hedges which are more than 6ft 6in tall if they form a barrier to light.

Edinburgh City Council issued an enforcement notice ordering hedges at the property to be trimmed, and Scottish Government planning reporter David Liddell yesterday issued a written notice clarifying that it is hedges along the western side of the property that should be reduced.

It is unclear whether Mr Goodwin will undertake the task himself. Although we are unwilling to delve into his privet finances, we can confidently assume that he has the hedge funds in place to be able to employ a gardener to do the deed. This should not be too much of a tall order.

Unless, of course, he wishes to reclaim his “Fred the shred” moniker.